Fuse or Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
Your RCD or MCB keeps tripping, cutting power to circuits. While annoying, this is a safety feature protecting you from electrical faults.
⚠️ Urgent - Don't DelayCommon Causes
Overloaded circuit (too many appliances)
Faulty appliance causing trip
Water ingress to electrics
Earth fault in wiring
Worn or damaged cable insulation
Faulty RCD or MCB
Nuisance tripping (sensitive RCD)
Outdoor electrics getting wet
When Tripping Is Serious
Trips immediately upon reset - DO NOT keep trying
Burning smell when circuit is on
Trip happens with specific appliance
Tripping becomes more frequent over time
Water has entered electrical areas
Trip happens after rain (outdoor circuit)
Scorching visible on consumer unit
🚨 What Happens If You Ignore This?
Repeated tripping indicates a fault that the safety device is protecting you from. Ignoring it, or worse, bypassing the protection, risks fire and electrocution.
Finding What's Causing the Trip
Identify What Tripped
RCD (usually wider, may say 30mA) protects against earth faults. MCB (narrow, numbered) protects against overload. Note which one tripped.
Unplug Everything on Circuit
If an MCB tripped, unplug all appliances on that circuit, then reset. If it stays on, a plugged appliance is the cause.
Test Appliances One by One
Plug appliances back in one at a time. When the circuit trips, you've found the faulty appliance.
Check for Water
Has water entered the circuit? Check outdoor sockets, under-cabinet areas, or anywhere water could reach electrics.
⚠️ Safety: Don't touch electrics if water is present. Call an electrician.
⚠️ Call a Professional If You Notice:
- •Circuit trips immediately on reset
- •Can't identify which appliance causes it
- •RCD trips randomly (earth fault)
- •Water has entered electrics
- •Burning smell or scorching
- •Tripping started after DIY work
- •No obvious cause found
Solutions
🔧 DIY Solution
Difficulty: easy
- 1
Don't repeatedly reset a breaker that keeps tripping
- 2
Unplug all devices from the affected circuit
- 3
Reset the breaker
- 4
Plug devices back one at a time to find faulty one
- 5
Faulty appliance: stop using it, get it repaired/replaced
- 6
Overload: redistribute appliances to different circuits
- 7
If no appliance found, call electrician
👷 Professional Solution
We use insulation resistance testing and RCD testing to locate faults precisely. Common fixes include repairing damaged cables, replacing faulty RCDs, or upgrading circuits.
Preventing Circuit Problems
Don't overload circuits with extension leads
Use correct fuses in plugs (3A for lamps, 13A for heaters)
Protect outdoor electrics from water
Replace old appliances with safety issues
Have consumer unit upgraded if still has rewirable fuses
Regular EICR testing catches problems early
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about our services.
Still have questions? We're here to help.
Contact UsStill Having Problems?
If you've tried the DIY solutions and still have issues, or if you'd prefer a professional to handle it from the start, we're here to help.
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